How Much Do Grow Lights Cost To Run? | Learn What to Expect Before You Buy Them

Are you concerned about the cost of electricity for your grow light? Don't be! You'll find out how much LED grow lights cost to run in this post so you can better plan your growing room.

Grow lights are an essential part of indoor gardening, and they can range in price depending on the type of grow light and the size of your grow room. But how much does it cost to run grow lights?

Of course, knowing how much it will cost to run your grow light before you purchase it will help you ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck and not overspending on electricity. Keep reading to learn about the cost of running LED grow lights.

Essential Factors That Influence How Much a Grow Light Will Cost To Operate

A few crucial factors will affect the cost of running your grow light. The first is the type of light you choose. LED grow lights, like fluorescent lights, are becoming more popular because they are more energy-efficient than other types of grow lights. It means that they use less electricity and therefore cost less to operate.

HID (high-intensity discharge) grow lights are popular, but they use more electricity than LED lights.

The second factor that influences the cost of running a grow light is the size of your grow room. The larger the space, the more lights you will need to cover the plants adequately. More lights mean more electricity usage and a higher bill.

Finally, the amount of time you run the grow light will also impact the cost. The longer the light is on, the more it will cost to operate. So, if you are only running your grow light for a few hours a day, it will cost less than if you were to run grow lights for 24 hours a day.

Other factors, such as the wattage of the light and the cost of electricity in your area, can also affect the cost of running a grow light.

The wattage of a grow light is how much power it uses. Higher wattage means that the light will use more electricity and thus cost more to run. The electricity cost varies from place to place.

If you live in an area with higher electricity costs, your grow light will also be more expensive to run. So, when you are looking at LED grow lights, be sure to consider the type of light, the size of your grow room, how long you plan to run the light each day, and the cost of electricity in your area.

Do Grow Lights Run Up Electric Bill?

This is a common question most people ask when considering switching to LED grow lights. The answer to this question depends on a few factors, such as the type of LED grow lights you are using and how many you have. 

After all, LED grow lights grow work with less energy and produce less heat. So, it stands to reason that they would also be more cost-effective to run. However, if you have powerful indoor garden LEDs, they will use a lot of money.

 Also, compared to HID lights, the LED cost will be a lot lower. So, if you are looking to save money on your electricity bill, switching to LED lights is a good option. Just be sure to research and find suitable LEDs for your needs.

How Much Will It Cost To Run LED Grow Lights?

To calculate the cost of running your LED grow light, you'll need to know your light's kilowatt-hour (kWh) rating and the price you pay for electricity per kWh.

You can find this price on your power bill. Typically, the cost of electricity in the United States is 12.83 cents per kilowatt-hour or $0.1283 per kWh. To calculate the cost of running your LED grow lights, multiply the cost per kWh Wattage (in kW) by the number of hours.

For example, if you have a grow light that is rated at 600 watts and it is on for 12 hours a day, it will cost you:

600 watts 12 hours $0.1283 per kWh = $86.98

= 0.6 kWh* 12 hours= 7.2 kWh

= 7.2 kWh* 12.83 cents per kilowatt-hour= $0.9196 per day

To calculate the cost of running your grow light for a month, you would multiply the daily cost by 30 days:

$0.9196 per day * 30 days = $27.59 per month

The average kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy measurement equal to 1,000 watts. You can use this same calculation for any grow light, including HPS, MH, and CMH lights. Just be sure to use the correct wattage rating for your specific type of light.

Now that you know how to calculate the cost of running your grow light, you can ensure that you're not spending more than you need to on your electricity bill.

How Much Does It Cost To Run a 1000w Grow Light?

To calculate the cost of running a 1000w grow light, you need to know the price of electricity per kilowatt-hour in your state.

The average price of electricity in the US is $0.1283 per kilowatt-hour. So, if you run a 1000w grow light for one hour, it will cost you $0.1283. If you run it for 24 hours, it will cost you $3.05. And if you run it for 30 days, the monthly cost would be $92.50.

As you can see, the cost of running a grow light can vary greatly depending on the wattage and hours of grow light used per day.

Choose an energy-efficient grow light and only use it as much as necessary to save money.

How Much Money Does An LED Grow Light Save?

You need to know how much electricity an LED light uses to calculate the savings. The average cost of electricity in the US is 12.83 cents per kilowatt-hour, which equals $0.1283 per kWh. An LED light uses about 0.5 watts per hour, so it would cost about $0.0064 to run for one hour.

Now let's compare that to a traditional grow light, such as an HID light. An HID light uses about 1000 watts, so it would cost about $1.283 to run for one hour.

So, an LED light costs about 5% of what an HID light electricity costs to run. For example, the calculation below:

5% of $0.1283/kWh = $0.0064/kWh

Therefore, an LED light would save about 95% on your electricity bill. To put that into perspective, if you ran an HID light for 12 hours a day for one month, the monthly cost would be $38.16.

But if you run an LED light for the same amount of time, it would only cost you about $1.92. That's a savings of $36.24 per month or about $434 per year! So, if you're looking to save money on your grow light bill, switch to an LED light. You'll be glad you did.

How Can You Reduce Running Cost

There are several ways you may use to reduce the running costs of LED grow lights. One way is to use the (limited) available natural light. You can do this by carefully positioning your grow room concerning windows and openings.

Doing this can reduce the amount of time your LED grow lights need to be on and reduce your overall cost. Another way to reduce the cost of running grow lights is to change supplier or electric company.

Many local energy suppliers offer discounts for businesses that use large amounts of electricity, so it's worth shopping around to see if you can get a better deal for saving money.

You may also switch to a day/night tariff, which can offer reduced rates for electricity used during off-peak hours.

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the cost of your energy bill and keep your operation running smoothly and cost-effectively.

The Bottom Line

LED grow lights can be an excellent investment for your indoor gardening needs. They can save you money in the long run by allowing you to produce high-quality cannabis plants indoors, and they also come with a wide range of options to find the perfect light for your specific situation.

If you're interested in learning more about how to choose the right grow light or require help setting up your new lighting system, don't hesitate to visit our 420 Green Thumb website or contact us today. We would be happy to help!